What to Do Immediately After a Winter Car Accident in Omaha
You're driving down I-80, and suddenly your car hits a patch of black ice. Before you know it, you're involved in an accident. Your heart is racing, and you're trying to figure out what to do next.
Winter accidents in Omaha and Council Bluffs come with their own challenges - icy roads, reduced visibility, and cold temperatures that can actually mask injury symptoms. Here's what you need to know about protecting yourself right after a winter car accident.
Check Yourself and Your Passengers First
Before you do anything else, assess whether you or anyone in your vehicle is injured. Adrenaline can mask pain in the moment, so even if you feel okay, pay attention to any discomfort, dizziness, or unusual sensations.
If anyone is seriously injured, call 911 immediately. Even if injuries seem minor, it's worth getting checked out - we'll talk more about why in a moment.
Get to a Safe Location
If possible and safe to do so, move your vehicle out of traffic. Winter weather means other drivers may have difficulty stopping, and staying in the roadway can be dangerous. Turn on your hazard lights so other vehicles can see you.
Call the Police
Even for seemingly minor accidents, having a police report is important. This is especially true in winter conditions where road conditions played a role. The officer will document the scene, weather conditions, and road state - all of which can be crucial for insurance claims.
Document Everything
This step is even more important in winter accidents. Here's what to capture:
Photos of all vehicles involved - Get multiple angles of the damage
Road conditions - Ice, snow, and slush can melt or be plowed away quickly. Photograph the road surface, visibility conditions, and any contributing factors
The accident scene - Street signs, traffic signals, skid marks if visible
Weather conditions - Even a photo showing falling snow or foggy conditions can be helpful later
Exchange information with the other driver, including insurance details, contact information, and license plate numbers.
Here's the Most Important Part: Get Checked Out - Even If You Feel Fine
This is where a lot of people make a critical mistake. You might feel okay at the scene. The adrenaline is pumping, you're focused on dealing with the situation, and the cold weather can actually numb pain and mask symptoms.
But here's what many people don't realize: injuries from car accidents often don't show up until days or even weeks later.
Whiplash is the perfect example. When your vehicle is hit, your head can snap forward and back quickly, straining the muscles and ligaments in your neck. You might not feel any pain at the accident scene, but a few days later, you wake up with neck stiffness, headaches, and shoulder pain.
The same goes for back injuries, soft tissue damage, and other common accident injuries. By the time symptoms appear, you may have already accepted a settlement offer from the insurance company - and once you sign, you can't go back for additional treatment costs.
Why You Shouldn't Wait to Seek Care
We see this scenario all the time at Accident Chiro Plus: someone was in an accident a week or two ago, felt fine at first, but now they're dealing with pain that's getting worse. They wish they had come in sooner.
Getting checked out right away does two important things:
It catches injuries before they become chronic problems. Early treatment means faster, more complete recovery.
It documents your injuries for insurance purposes. If you wait weeks to seek care, insurance companies may argue that your injuries weren't caused by the accident.
What to Expect at Accident Chiro Plus
When you come to our office after an auto accident, we don't rush you through. Here's what happens:
Our 10-Point Examination includes a thorough assessment of your spine, neck, shoulders, and any areas of concern. We're looking for injuries that might not be causing pain yet but could become problems down the road.
One-on-One Care means you're seeing the same provider throughout your treatment. We get to know you, your injuries, and what you're experiencing.
We Work With Insurance so you can focus on healing instead of paperwork. Most of our patients have little to no out-of-pocket expense.
Same-Day Appointments are usually available because we know that when you're hurting, you need help now - not next week.
Don't Accept a Settlement Before You're Fully Assessed
Insurance adjusters often reach out quickly after an accident with a settlement offer. It might seem convenient to accept and move on. But once you sign that release, you can't go back for additional compensation if injuries appear later.
Before you accept any settlement, get fully checked out. Make sure you know the extent of your injuries and what treatment you'll need. This protects you from being stuck with medical bills down the road for injuries that were caused by the accident.
Winter Accidents Are Different
Cold weather adds complications to auto accident injuries. The cold can mask pain, making you think you're fine when you're actually injured. Muscles tense up in cold weather, which can make accident-related strains worse. And winter roads mean accidents often happen at different angles or speeds than summer collisions.
All of this means winter accidents require careful assessment, even when you feel okay initially.
We're Here When You Need Us
If you've been in an auto accident - whether it happened this morning or last week - we're here to help. We serve families throughout Omaha and Council Bluffs, and we understand how scary and confusing this process can be.
You don't have to navigate this alone. From your initial exam through your full recovery, we'll guide you every step of the way.